Israel 'Seeks' Annual $5 Billion Aid from the U.S.

Reports indicate that the Israeli government has requested an increase in military aid from the U.S. to reach $5 billion annually. Reuters reported on Wednesday, November 4, citing officials in Washington's Congress and U.S. statesmen, that Israel has requested this significant increase in military aid as part of a new package from Washington. In recent years, the U.S. has provided $3.1 billion annually to its ally, but Israel believes that with the 'increased risks' to the country, American assistance should also be raised. Israel has particularly highlighted the need to counter 'risks from the Iran nuclear deal.' According to Reuters, Israel expects to receive a total of $50 billion in U.S. military aid over a ten-year period starting from 2017 as part of the new package. U.S. officials have stated that Israel has made initial proposals but must obtain final approval from the White House. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to Washington for discussions on this matter; his meetings at the White House are scheduled for next week, but given the ongoing security crisis in Israel, it is still unclear whether he will be able to make this trip on that date. Last month, Netanyahu stated, 'Both opponents and supporters of the nuclear deal with Iran agree that Israel should receive more military aid, and I will discuss this with the U.S. President during my visit to Washington.' A U.S. official also told Reuters that Washington might not accept the request to increase aid to $5 billion annually, but it could agree to $4 billion in annual military assistance to Israel. If negotiations progress in the coming days, it is anticipated that a memorandum of understanding regarding the increase in military aid between Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu will be signed during the Israeli Prime Minister's talks in Washington. This aid is separate from the several hundred million dollars that the U.S. has provided in recent years for the development of Arrow-type anti-missile systems for Israel. Before the Iran and world powers reached a nuclear agreement last July, Israel and the U.S. were pursuing discussions to increase military aid, and it was expected that this amount would reach $3.6 billion or $3.7 billion annually over a ten-year period. However, Benjamin Netanyahu, strongly opposed to the nuclear agreement reached with the leadership of the U.S. in the 1+5 group with Iran, called for the cessation of negotiations with the U.S. General Moshe Ya'alon, Israel's Defense Minister, prepared the groundwork for the new U.S. military aid package to Israel during two days of talks at the Pentagon with U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter last week. Ya'alon said at a press conference last Wednesday with his American counterpart, 'The nuclear agreement with Iran is now a reality, and our focus must be on the future.' The Israeli Prime Minister has stated that the lifting of sanctions on Iran has increased the financial power of the Iranian regime, allowing Tehran to further support its 'terrorist proxies' in the region, such as Hezbollah and other groups in Syria and Palestinian territories, thereby increasing risks for Israel. Israeli media, quoting the country's Defense Minister, reported that he has requested additional American F-35 fighter jets and more modern weapons that have so far only been available to the U.S. military.